⚠️Ok, The Headline May Be A Stretch…But the Bitumen Bandits Are Real And So Is the Shocking State of SA’s Roads
If dodging potholes was an Olympic sport, South Aussie drivers would be a genuine medal chance.
Craters big enough to swallow a Suzuki Swift have been appearing on country roads, revealing bitumen spread about as generously as a tourist trying Vegemite for the first time.
These rim-wrecking sinkholes have claimed countless vehicles. And observing the temporary “repair” jobs, you could be forgiven for thinking someone in the government transport department has taken up the “special deal” currently being offered by the notoriously dodgy “bitumen bandits”.
If a deal to fix your holes and cracks sounds too good to be true…
We reported on a similar scam doing the rounds back in 2023, and while we can’t confirm if this is the same “road crew”, we can vouch for their one-star reviews.
Their sales pitch is simple. They’ve supposedly got a truckload of leftover bitumen from another job nearby and they’re happy to do you a “special deal” while they’re in the area.
The catch? The workmanship is about as convincing as some of the pothole repairs we’re seeing this winter.. and the final bill can be thousands more than agreed.
Last month they were hitting up farmers and businesses across Mid North towns, and more recently a Lyndoch business owner got a front-row seat to the scam.
With her carpark looking worse for wear, she thought Christmas had come early when a young bloke pulled in and offered some left over bitumen from council pothole repairs down the road.
What looked like the deal of the century quickly escalated into four workers carrying out far more work than expected before demanding almost $10,000 on the spot.
When she questioned the job and the company behind it, the group left, only for someone claiming to be the business owner to phone and continue pressuring her for payment. As she dug around she discovered more red flags than a Farmer Wants a Wife speed dating session. Fortunately no money changed hands, and the business owner is now just left with a carpark clean up job.
If someone knocks on your door offering a cheap bitumen job, you can be fairly confident it’s about as dodgy as some of the roads we’re driving on.
To report suspected scammers, contact SAPOL on 131 444, report the incident to Scamwatch, and if you’ve handed over money or banking details, contact your bank immediately.
